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February 2017

"At a time when the government is professing to be making every effort to save every penny, moving this service to Corner Brook will come at a big expense. We just can’t figure it out.” — Jerry Earle, NAPE President

"This was a tough fight against the third largest company in the industry that was intent on introducing American-style union busting through gutting a collective agreement." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

“New buildings and machines don’t actually treat patients. Health professionals treat patients, and there is a dire shortage of them because their pay has not been competitive for many years." — Val Avery, HSABC President

“This report echoes what the BCGEU has been saying for a long time, and that is, there needs to be more funding and staffing for both legal aid and court services in B.C.” – Stephanie Smith, President BCGEU

“Our work is protecting society’s most vulnerable children. We can’t give each child the attention and care they need if we’re juggling more cases than we can handle.” — Nicole Dennison McLeod, President of OPSEU Local 459

“Public sector workers don’t want mandatory unpaid days off, and they shouldn’t be threatened with them, or with job losses, just because this government blew billions of taxpayers’ dollars.” — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President

“They’re hearing – from people like the Auditor General – about the tremendous waste of their tax dollars through outsourcing and public-private partnerships. They’re also discovering no one is immune to this assault on public services." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

"These new statistics prove that now, more than ever, the B.C. government and WCB must address the issue of prison violence. The safety and security of our members — and our communities — is at stake.” — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President

Vancouver (21 Feb. 2017) — New statistics released by BC Corrections show that prison violence in B.C. continues to rise. Assaults on correctional officers rose by 39 per cent between 2014 and 2015, and the new stats indicate that —based on the halfway point of 2016 — this figure is projected to rise by another 21.5 per cent for 2016.

“Building cleaners are the lowest-paid workers in government, and they’re being forced to pay for the Sask. Party government’s mismanagement. Now, instead of listening to us, they’re trying to dig their way out of their mess at the expense of public employees’ jobs and rights.” — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President

"We know that patients are waiting months for necessary diagnostic testing, and as long as they don’t get a diagnosis that leads to treatment, their physical condition will continue to deteriorate. It is a short-sighted approach to health care." — Val Avery. HSABC President

"At a time when hospitals are increasingly facing cuts and restructuring across Ontario, hospital professionals are highly aware of the importance of joining a union." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

“This government is making ideological cuts which, in many cases, just make the issues worse. The government needs to make changes that won’t just trigger a crisis in another service area.” — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President

"Remember, while this is not our immediate struggle, we may need the help of our friends one day when we are in a struggle of our own. It is important to make our friends before we need them." — Scott MacDougall, HSAA Board member – North District

CETA was passed with no evidence whatsoever of any benefit arising for the people of either the EU or Canada. CETA is good because it is good, and it is good because it is good. One can hear more sophisticated reasoning in almost any kindergarten class.

Ottawa (15 Feb. 2017) — The CETA Scorecard stands at Multinational Corporations 1, the People 0. But the game isn’t nearly over.

“The LCBO has discriminated against workers in its largest female-dominated job classification for decades, and now that is coming to an end. It is a huge step forward for these precarious workers and their families.” — Denise Davis, Chair, OPSEU's Liquor Board Employees Division

Fredericton (14 Feb. 2017) — The budget tabled by the provincial government in February did not address important topics relevant to the members, says the New Brunswick Union (NBU/NUPGE). The union was hoping the budget would include details regarding the extra-mural program, support for workers and consultation with labour on a variety of issues.

"We were hoping to hear some definitive plans, but unfortunately we're left with more questions than answers," said Susie Proulx-Daigle, President of the NBU/NUPGE.

Flying in the face of the Manitoba government's invitation to find ways to improve the province's fiscal situation, it now wants to talk only about how it can make cuts to the public sector. These cuts may include reduced worked weeks, predetermined wage settlements, changes to pensions and the re-opening of collective agreements.

“Last federal election Canadians voted overwhelmingly against policies that fuel income inequality. Now a federal government advisory council is making recommendations that fly in the face of what Canadians voted for.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President.

"From library reviews to Muskrat Falls to P3s to public sector bargaining and everything in between, this sort of ‘pay-to-play’ arrangement casts a shadow over the entire political process." — Jerry Earle, NAPE President

“Our members depend on us to help them achieve the secure retirement they deserve. There was a lot of knowledge in the room and it was a great chance to learn from each other.” Elisabeth Ballermann, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer.

"It would be expected that Vancouver’s municipal government, which formally recognizes the scope of the crisis, would put more effort into harm reduction in what is already the most heavily policed neighbourhood in British Columbia.” — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President

“We are very disappointed about the government dropping their electoral reform promise. We were working on this in good faith, assuming the government meant what it said. Trust has been broken.” — Larry Brown, President NUPGE

NUPGE President Larry Brown argues that the temptation to laugh, even if the laugh was bitter, has been erased over the last few days as the Trump administration issued racist and religiously biased travel bans on people traveling to the U.S.